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Network Troubleshooting - Internet Sharing
Network Troubleshooting - Internet Sharing

A guide to network testing via a separate out-of-band path to the internet and how to take a packet capture via Wireshark

Updated over a week ago

There will be times when troubleshooting requires you to eliminate the core network as a source of problems. This guide will walk you through how to create a mini test-network using items you should have around the workplace.

Initial Setup

  1. Set up your mobile hotspot so that your computer can connect to it. (Not covered in this guide, please refer to your owner's manual for the specific device.)

  2. Connect your computer to the hotspot.

  3. Plug in the PoE injector and run one of the patch cables from the IN port to your computer. (We will wait to plug in the camera for now.)

Item

Number Needed

Mobile Hotspot

1

Laptop

1

PoE Injector

1

Short Patch Cable

4

Wireshark - Packet Capture software

1

Setup for Apple Users 

  1. Select the apple icon () in the top left of your screen.

  2. Select System Settings.

  3. In the search bar type sharing and select Sharing.

  4. Select the info icon near Internet Sharing.

  5. You will then need to share your connection from the interface connected to the mobile hotspot to the interface that is attached to the PoE injector's IN port. In my setup, I am connected to the hotspot via WiFi, and my PoE injector is connected to my USB Ethernet Adaptor (which is plugged into my Mac's USB-C port). In this setup, I selected to share from WiFi and to USB 10/100/1000 LAN. (Your settings may vary based on your setup).

  6. Once your interfaces are selected you will need to toggle Internet Sharing. This will prompt you to start the sharing service. Select Start on this prompt.

  7. You should now see Internet Sharing: On. We are ready for the packet capture step.

Setup for Windows ⊞

  1. Press the Windows key ⊞ or click in your search bar and type "control" Then select Control Panel.

  2. Select Network and Internet.

  3. Select Network and Sharing Center.

  4. Select Change adapter settings.

  5. Find the interface that is connected to the hotspot. Right-click it and select properties. In my setup, I have connected to my hotspot via WiFi.

  6. Select the Sharing tab and check the box next to Allow other network users to connect.

  7. Select the interface you wish to share the connection with. This will be the port of the PoE injector's IN cable. In my case, it is Ethernet. Once the interface is selected click OK and you should be good to go.

Packet Captures - Wireshark

Verkada Support's tool of choice for getting packet captures is Wireshark. Wireshark is an open-source packet capture/analyzer program. We will be using it to create a .pcap file that can be sent to the Verkada Support team.

  1. Download and Install Wireshark.

  2. Open up Wireshark and select the interface that your PoE injector is connected to. In my setup, USB 10/100/1000 LAN: en12 is where my Poe injector's IN cable is connected. This will allow us to capture and see the traffic passing to and from the camera.

  3. When you are ready select the shark fin. This will start the packet capture.

  4. Plug in the camera to the OUT port of your PoE injector. Only after you start the packet capture plug in the camera. You will see the packets start to flow. (This could take a few moments as the camera needs to go through the boot process.)

  5. Wait five minutes or until the camera's LED status light turns solid blue and select the stop button (red square).

  6. Save the file and send it to your friendly Verkada Support Agent!

Note: If your camera was not connecting on your core network but successfully connects to Command using your mobile setup, this tells us that the issue lies somewhere on the core network.

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